System and method for magnetic resonance elastography

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a magnetic resonance (MR) system for capturing an MR Elastography measurement of a biological lifeform may include a platform; a gel pad on a surface of the platform; and a sensor array. In some embodiments, the sensor array includes at least one ultrasound transducer, and at least one radiofrequency (RF) transmitter and receiver coil. The sensor array is at least partially embedded within the gel pad, and the gel pad is configured to provide mechanical impedance matching between the at least one ultrasound transducer and the biological lifeform. In some embodiments, a system includes the apparatus and an MR system, the MR system including an ultrasonic wave generator, an interface circuit, and a computing device. In some such embodiments, the ultrasonic wave generator is configured to generate one or more shear waves in the biological lifeform.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for capturing a magnetic-resonance (MR) Elastography measurement of a biological lifeform, the method comprising:
 providing a platform, a gel pad on a surface of the platform, and a sensor array, wherein the sensor array comprises: at least one ultrasound transducer, and at least one radio-frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver coil, wherein the sensor array is embedded within the gel pad, and the gel pad comprises an aqueous material and is configured to provide mechanical impedance matching between the at least one ultrasound transducer and the biological lifeform, wherein the aqueous material transmits more ultrasound energy than glycerin, mineral oil or water, wherein at least the one ultrasound transducer and at least the one RF transmitter are embedded within the gel pad, and wherein embedded comprises surrounding and having contact with at least three sides of at least the one ultrasound transducer and at least the one RF transmitter; 
 generating one or more shear waves in the biological lifeform; 
 acquiring one or more images of a propagation of the one or more shear waves; and 
 processing the one or more images to produce a quantitative map of a tissue stiffness of the biological lifeform. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying an anomaly in the biological lifeform based, at least in part, on the produced quantitative map. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising altering a water content of the gel pad before or during capture of the MR Elastography measurement. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising altering a composition of the gel pad with one or more of: a contrast agent, a substance with a known T1 and T2, and a known proton density. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising altering one or more of: an elasticity and a viscosity of the gel pad to alter a surface area of the gel pad in contact with the biological lifeform. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor array further comprises one or more of: an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, a conductance sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a movement sensor, a fiber optic sensor, a photoplethysmogram sensor, and an electrocardiogram sensor. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising monitoring a pulse of the biological lifeform using the sensor array. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising measuring one or more of: a weight, a volume, and a density of the biological lifeform using the sensor array. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gel pad comprises doping agent that conveys imaging phantom attributes to the gel pad. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein different regions of the gel pad comprise different concentrations of a doping agent. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gel pad comprises a doping agent to differentiate the gel pad from the biological lifeform.